Ducks reel in another transfer

Former Grant High standout Moser will play final season at Oregon

Given a second chance as Mike Moser picked his third college destination, Oregon won out with the decision by the former all-state player at Portland's Grant High to join the Ducks for his final season.

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By Eugene Register-Guard

MailTribune.com

By Eugene Register-Guard

Posted May. 9, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 9, 2013 at 2:45 AM

By Eugene Register-Guard

Posted May. 9, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 9, 2013 at 2:45 AM

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Given a second chance as Mike Moser picked his third college destination, Oregon won out with the decision by the former all-state player at Portland's Grant High to join the Ducks for his final season.

Well, where better for a player with one season left than Oregon?

In Dana Altman's three previous seasons as the UO coach, he has had great success with players who had only one season of eligibility remaining when they joined the Ducks, from Jay-R Strowbridge the first year to Devoe Joseph and Olu Ashaolu the second to Arsalan Kazemi this past season.

Moser will be a similar one-season Duck; he previously played a year at UCLA and two seasons at UNLV, where he also sat out a season after he transferred from UCLA. In this case, the 6-foot-8 Moser won't have to sit out, provided he is successful in completing his degree requirements at UNLV.

Moser also said that at Oregon, "there's a role for me to come in and play big minutes, be a focal point. I'm looking forward to that."

UO coaches are prohibited from commenting on Moser until he has signed the paperwork to make official the transfer and the granting of a scholarship. After announcing his intention to leave UNLV for his final season, Moser also visited Gonzaga and Washington along with Oregon.

The decision of Moser was first reported Tuesday by Matt Prehm at DuckTerritory.com, an Internet site that also reported that Tarik Black was visiting the campus as he closes in on a decision of where he will transfer after playing three seasons at Memphis. The 6-9, 260-pound Black would also be immediately eligible because he has completed his degree.

Among other schools that have shown a strong interest in Black are Duke and Kansas, but recruiting sources have indicated Oregon is a strong contender for him, if not the leader.

Having Moser commit is not seen as a detriment to the possible addition of Black, and in fact might enhance Oregon's chances since adding Moser seems likely to make the Ducks a stronger overall team.

Both Moser and Black are coming off disappointing junior seasons that prompted their moves.

After averaging 14 points and 10 rebounds and receiving honorable mention all-American status as a sophomore at UNLV, Moser last season averaged 7.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game, though his season was marred by an injury that forced him to miss seven games.

The Rebels also moved Moser from his preferred power forward position to small forward after the addition of five-star recruit Anthony Bennett.

Black is seen as more of a true center who could play alongside Moser.

He averaged 8.1 points and 4.8 rebounds last season, both down from his sophomore season. That his playing time was reduced was also apparently a factor in a blowup with the coaching staff and a subsequent one-game suspension early in the season.

Moser helped Grant win the state Class 6A title in his junior season of 2008, and then averaged 28 points and 13 rebounds as a senior, though recent UO grad E.J. Singler edged him for state player of the year honors.

Moser first committed to Arizona, then after the Wildcats changed coaches switched to UCLA after considering Oregon and other Pac-12 schools.

The decision by Moser means it's likely that either a current Oregon player or one who has signed a letter of intent to join the team next year, won't be on the 2013-14 roster in order to keep the Ducks within the NCAA scholarship limit of 13 for men's basketball.

Oregon has signed five players, three of whom will be incoming freshmen and the other two junior college transfers.

That would be in addition to the eight players with remaining eligibility on last season's roster.

Through a UO spokesman, the compliance office reported Tuesday that no current players have departed the program.